Network Installation

A primary factor involved in network installation is the planning. You should aim to design a framework which will handle the current needs of your business, but won’t restrict your future plans and force you to start from scratch later on. A good plan up-front will give you a smoother installation and less worry in the long run. And the other side of that is that being too hasty often results in trouble later on.

That’s why experts emphasize the importance of network planning in advance of implementation, and this is also applicable to upgrading an existing network.

Where do you Start ?

Before you get going, you should really gather some information about the various types of networks. The network installation can be done in two ways and these methods are known as Local Area Networks (LAN) and Wide Area Networks (WAN).

If you’re looking for a network installation to be confined in a building or in a campus a LAN is the best option. WAN networks will be used for connecting many LANs together with some highly advanced WAN technology.

Another important aspect regarding the network application, is the nature of the network you want to opt for. A peer-to-peer network allows all the computers to handle security and administration for themselves. The major concern about this type of network is that you will have to make sure the correct person gets access to the important information. In a client-server network a central computer will be there to store files for sharing and to control access to the printer.

The protocol used between computers is an important aspect as well. Protocols are the rules that computers have agreed on to communicate with each other. Two computers with different protocols won’t be able to communicate. You should have a clear-cut idea about the protocol you would like to use.

Managing the Network

After getting an idea of what you need and the requirements of potential users of the network you can start thinking about the process of managing it. The main trade-off you should look at is how cost-effective it is to either manage the network internally, or outsource or contract it to a specialized firm. We’re very happy to help you decide on the best solution, so contact us if you’d like some advice.

A major aspect to be looked over at the time of the network installation is the protection of the most important asset, the information. Other security precautions like passwords, virus protection, an external firewall and data encryption should also all be handled at the same time.

Some other things its good to pay attention to are . . .

Managing the information on your server to make it convenient for the users.

Introducing special feature like remote dial-in or a Virtual Private Network (VPN).

Training programs for the staff.

Planning for the number of on-site computers and other on-site devices, number of remote users and total number of users : and information about the server based applications and specification of the servers is all needed for the effective installation of a network.

Other factors to be looked at are backup solution, ventilating the servers, network technical support, network interface cards and locating the installation.

If all this sounds like a bit too much work, let us help you with your network installation – that’s why we’re here. Contact us on 1300 867 867